Loose-leaf binder.



F. B. JORDAN.

LOOSE LEAF BINDER.

APPLIOATIOR FILED 313.17, 1908.

901347. Patented 0013.20, 1908.

PATENT OFFICE.

FRED B. JORDAN, OF WINCHESTER, MASSACHUSETTS.

LoosE-LEAF BINDER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 20, 1908.

Application filed February 17, 1908. Serial No. 416,179.

To all whom it may concern:

l3e it known that I, FRED B. JORDAN, a clt zen of the United States, and resident of Wmchester, county of Middlesex, State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement n Loose-Leaf Binders, of which the. following description, in connection with the accompanying drawing, is a specification, like letters on the drawing representing like parts.

This invention relates to loose-leaf binders, and more particularly to such binders used for sales sheets, invoices, shipping. schedules, etc., which are temporarily bound together and which are frequently removed for reference or other purposes.

One of the principal objects of the invention is the production of a binder so constructed and arranged that the binding member can be quickly removed from and applied to the base member without particular care on the part of the user.

Another object of the invention is the production of simple means for holding the operating parts of the binder in locked or unlocked condition, as may be desired, until positively released, so that when locked the binder as a whole will not be released by an accidental knock, and when the binder memher is removed it may be retained unlocked 1n readiness to be instantly applied to the base member.

These and other novel features of my inyention will be fully described in the sub- JOlIlQCl specification and particularly pointed out in the following claims.

Figure 1 is a top plan view of a loose-leaf binder embodying one form of my inven' tion, the top or covering member being broken out to show the base member or board; Fig. 2 is a left hand end elevation thereof; Fig. 3 is an enlarged top plan view, partly in section, of the binder member, showing the free end of one of the locking bars 1n engagement with one of the rods or posts 011 the base; Fig. 4 is an enlarged side elevation of the actuating handles which control the locking bars, the binder plate and the cover for said bars being shown in section; Fig. 5 is a similar view but showing the handles in position to retract the locking bars, the handles being held in such position; Fig. 6 is a horizontal section on the line 6-6, Fig. 4, looking down; Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the two actuating handles, detached.

which are to be bound having round holes to receive the rods. By notching said rods on their inner sides only the loose leaves are readily applied and removed, without any tendency to tear the holes therein.

In the present embodiment of my invention the removable binder member comprises an elongated, rigid fiat metallic plate 4 on the top of which is fixedly secured an arched V A cover plate 5, suitable rivets 6 and 7 holding the two together, the plate having a central opening 8 and a similar opening 9 is made in the cover above it. The sides of the opening 9 are upturned to form parallel ears 10 which support a transverse fulcrum pin 1.1, upon which are pivotally mounted the handles, to be described. A cover or binding board 12 may be secured in any suitable manner to the binder member, and in order to prevent obscuring the structure of the binder member I have indicated the board 12 by dotted lines in Fig. 2. The rivets 6 and 7 are shown arranged in pairs near the ends of the binder member, and between each pair the plate 4 is transversely slotted at 13, from its edge inward somewhat past the central line of the plate, and the cover 5 is correspondingly slotted at 14, so that at its outer edge the binder member is provided with two transverse, open ended slots spaced apart the proper distance to receive the rods 2. The binder member is applied to or removed from said rods by a horizontal movement, which can be done very quickly and without requiring care in the operation when applying the binder member, as is the case when said member is provided with holes which must be made to accurately register with the tops of the rods, as will be evident. Not only that, but if there are only a few leaves on the base the binder member can be set down upon the topmost one and then instantly moved horizontally into cooperation with the rods, and it can be detached in a similar manner without any movement longitudinally of the rods.

Within the cover 5 are mounted two flat locking bars 15, of such a thickness as to easily enter the notches 3 in the rods, the

free or outer ends of the bars being recessed, as at 16, Fig. 3, to partly embrace the rods,

when in engagement therewith, the recessed end being most clearly shown in the re-.

tracted, dotted line position of the bar in Fig. 3. At their inner ends the bars are ,cut out to leave opposite tongues 17, see Fig. 6,

apertured at 18 to loosely receive depending extensions 19 on finger pieces or handles 20,

cover 5, an'd'the ear of the other handle being adjacent the opposite ear. A spring 22 is coiled around the pin 11 between the two ears 21, maintaining the latter and their handlesin proper lateral position on the pin, the ends of the spring being upturned against the opposite faces of said handles, as in 'Figs' a and 5. The spring normally presses the handles apart, as in Figs. 1, 2 and 4, and thereby the extensions 19 act to move their respective locking bars outward, with their free ends projecting across the slots 13 in locking position. By'pressing the handles together, as in Fig. 5, the extensions act toretract the locking bars into inoperat ive position, as in dotted lines Fig. 3, leaving the slots 13 clear. Each bar is longitudinally slotted at 15*, Fig. 3, to embrace the rivet 6, which guides the bar and limits its movement, and I prefer to place a washer 23 around each rivet 6 between the plate a and the locking bar, to slightly elevate the latter and to reduce friction. By pinching the handles together the locking bars are disengaged from the notched rods 2 and the binder member can be bodily removed, to permit leaves or sheets to be applied to or removedfrom the rods, so that the handles not only actuate the locking bars but they also afford a finger-hold for bodily movements of the binder member. It is desirable that the handles be held from relative movement accidentally, so that if struck they will not unlock the'binder member if it is in operative position, and also to retain the looking bars retracted when the said member is temporarily detached from the notched rods, and I have provided a simple double-acting retaining device or catch for such purpose. One of the handles 20 has a transverse slot 2 1 to receive loosely the reduced end of a curved catch 25, held in place by downturned lugs 26 at the back of the handle, its adjacent end forming a finger-piece 27.

On the underside of the catch is a downturnedprojection 28 adapted to drop over and hold the upper edge of the opposite handle when said handles are pressed togather, as in Fig. 5, holding the handles in closed position with the locking bars inoperative until downward pressure on the fingem-piece 27 withdraws the projection. The

tip of the catch is reduced to form a prong 29 which is adapted to drop into a small opening 3.0 in the opposite handle, as in Fig. 4, when the handles are separated, to thereby maintain the handles open untilthe catch is released by depression of the finger piece, so that the locking bars are maintained in their operative position. Thus the catch operates to retain the handles in either open or closed position until positively released, and the binder as a whole can be moved about a desk or table or even thrown carelessly about without becoming unlocked.

The construction of the whole apparatus is simple, yet strong and durable, and well adapted to withstand hard usage, and the rapidity with which its manipulation is effected makes it very easy to operate.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. The combination with a base member having attached upright rods notched on their inner sides, of a binder member having transverse slots to receive the rods, longitudinally slidable locking bars mounted on the binder member and having their free ends movable into the slots thereof to engage the notched rods, the inner ends of the locking bars lying side by side, upturned retracting handles having a common fulcrum on the binder member and having depending extensions pivotally connected with the adjacent inner ends of the lockingbars, to operate the latter, and a spring to separate the handles and through their depending extensions to force the bars into locking position.

2. The combination with a base member having rigidly attached upright rods notched on their inner sides, of a binder member having transverse slots leading inward from one of its edges, to receive the rods, oppositely movable locking bars mounted on the binder member and having their free ends movable into the slots to engage the notched rods, the inner ends of the bars being cut out to form apertured tongues lying side by side, compressible handles having a common fulcrum on the binder member and having depending extensions extended loosely into the apertures in the tongues of the locking bars to operate the same in opposite directions,

and a spring to normally separate the handles and cause their extension to force the bars into locking position.

3. The combination with a base member having rigidly attached upright rods notched on their inner sides, of a binder member havingtransverse slots leading inward from one of its edges, to receive the rods, oppositely movable locking bars mounted on the-binder memberand having their free ends movable into theslots to engage the notched rods, ac-

tuating handles operatively connected with the locking bars, a spring acting through the handles to move said bars into locking position, and a device cooperating with said handles to maintain them in either locked or unlocked position.

4. The combination with a base member having rigidly attached upright rods notched on their inner sides, of a binder member having openings to receive the rods, bars movably mounted on the binder member to enter said openings and operatively engage the rods, handles movable toward and from each other and operatively connected with said bars, to move the latter out of and into position to engage the rods, a spring cooperating with the handles to separate them and move the bars into engagin position, and a device to positively retain t e handles in one or the other of their positions.

5. The combination with a base member having rigidly attached upright rods notched on their inner sides, of a binder member having transverse slots leading inward from one of its edges, to receive the rods, oppositely movable locking bars mounted on the binder member and having their free ends movable into the slots to engage the notched rods, actuating handles operatively connected with said bars, a spring to normally separate the handles and move the bars into locking position, and a catch mounted on one of the handles to engage the other handle and positively hold said handles in either open or closed position until released.

6. The combination with a base member having attached upright rods notched on their inner sides, of a binder member comprising a flat bottom plate and an arched cover attached thereto, the plate and cover having transverse open-ended slots in one side to receive the notched rods, locking bars longitudinally movable within the cover and having their outer ends recessed to partly embrace and engage the notched rods, the adjacent inner ends of said bars being apertured, opposite upturned ears on the cover midway between the slots and a fulcrum pin sustained in the ears, the cover being cut out between them, handles fulcrumed on said pins and each having a depending extension loosely entering the aperture in one of the bars, movement of the handles toward each other retracting the lockin bars, and a spiral spring surrounding the ulcrum pin and bearing at its ends against the handles to separate them and move the locking bars into position to engage the notched rods.

7. The combinationwith a base-board having rigidly attached upright rods notched on their inner sides, of a binder member having open-ended slots to receive the rods, locking bars oppositely slidable on the binder member with their free ends movable into and out of the slots, to engage or release the notched rods, centrally located upright ears on the binder member and a transverse pin supported thereby, handles fulcrumed side by side on the pin and having depending extensions loosely connected with the inner ends of the bars, to oppositely move the latter by rocking movement of the handles, and a spiral spring acting upon the handles to separate them and thereby project the bars into locking position.

8. The combination with a base-board having attached upright notched rods, of a binder member having rod-receiving openings, locking devices to engage the rods, oppositely movable handles operatively connected with said devices to actuate them, a spring to act upon the handles and move said devices into locking position, and a catch to cooperate with the handles and re tain them in closed or open position until positively released.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

FRED B. JORDAN.

Witnesses:

THOMAS J. DRUMMOND, LOUIS C. SMITH.

It is hereby certified that in Letters Patent No. 901,347, granted October 20, 1908, upon the application of Fred B. Jordan, of Winchester, Massachusetts, for an improve ment in Loose-Leaf Binders, an error appears in the printed specification requiring correction, as follows: In line 120, page 2, the Word extension should read extensions; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office. 7

Signed and sealed this 17th day of November, A. D., 1908.

' o. o. BILLINes,

Acting Commissioner of Patents,

[SEAL] 

